◈ 290. [Side Story] Sak(朔)
the central part of the continent.
center of the world. The capital of the Everblack Empire.
Ecliptic New Terra.
In this huge port city, the size of a small country, a grand fireworks display was being held on the last day of the autumn festival.
pop-! Perbung-!
Colorful fireworks light up the night sky.
As befits a festival held in the capital of the Everblack Empire, the largest country in the world, the fireworks that ended the night of the autumn festival were enormous.
It was so bad that one could mistake it for a full moon in the dark sky.
“… … .”
The splendid fireworks display, 2nd Prince Fernandez was watching from his office located on the highest spire to the west of the imperial palace.
Fernandez, who slowly swallowed the poisoned wine from the glass, opened his mouth slowly.
“Do you know why the Everblack Empire’s autumn festival is held on the eve of the year?”
Talking partner, there is no answer.
Standing behind Fernandez looking out the window, he just listened to his story in silence.
“It would be nice to play on a full moon night when the moonlight is bright. Why did the New Year’s Eve be the start of the festival? Also, did they set the three days until the new moon sets as an autumn festival?”
From the new moon to the new moon. 3 days with the darkest night sky.
The Autumn Festival of the Everblack Empire is held at this time. It was a bit strange tradition to open the festival on the darkest night.
“Do you know the reason, Sir Reina?”
When Fernandez looked back and asked,
The opponent who had been standing still – the captain of the magic corps, Reina silently bowed her head.
“… … I do not know. majesty.”
“Well, there are many things.”
Fernandez turned his head out the window again. And he saw the black sky above, where firecrackers exploded incessantly.
“I think it’s because the color of this black and black sky without a single moonlight is the same as the color of the country’s national tree, the Everblack Tree. I guess so.”
“… … .”
“The one who brought wealth and prosperity to this country, and helped mankind to seize world hegemony… … The black tree.”
Frozen with the emperor on the throne. That black, mighty thorn.
Fernandez smiled bitterly as he recalled the image of the tree that had gone into hibernation with his father.
“… … well this is my personal opinion Most people hold a festival at this time because they can see the fireworks well – that’s what I think.”
“… … .”
Rayna was silent.
The old officer’s face hardened as he stood with a cane from injuries sustained in the South.
Maybe that expression is because of the pain of an old man who was injured. Maybe it’s because of the reprimand from the boss I met after a long time.
Or maybe it’s because she might have to walk in the future.
Fernandez didn’t know, but he had no reason to know.
Rayna is a soldier.
Whatever she holds inside, she will do whatever Fernandez tells her to do.
“It became a trivial matter like the timing of the festival.”
Turning around from the window, Fernandez slowly came to the center of the office and sat down on the sofa.
“Yes, Sir Reina. How was your mission in the South?”
“It was enjoyable in its own way.”
Still standing without sitting down, Reina suddenly thought of Junior.
In the end, though, he never forgave himself. Nevertheless, she tried to continue the conversation with herself… … that little child.
The wizard of the new era who was connected by lightning and wind, who was not blood related but resembled his old friend.
“It feels like I’ve been on vacation for the first time in a while.”
“A vacation… … . Did you go there with such a light heart?”
Firing, Fernandez tapped the reports spread on the table in front of the sofa with his fingertips.
“I was informed of everything that happened on the southern front. I also read the report written by Kyung.”
“… … .”
“Are you saying that the ‘shutdown protocol’ that was installed there was scrapped by the Lord’s hand?”
shutdown protocol.
A human sacrifice magic circle that burns all humans inside the camp and uses the enormous energy extracted from the souls of those humans to magically stuff all spaces in the area.
It was a secret technique of the Magic Corps that was mainly installed in areas suspected of rebellion or areas of conflict with enemy countries and used for intimidation.
The primary purpose of the magic corps dispatched to the Crossroads was to install it, but Reina destroyed it with her own hands during the defense of Jormungand.
“Things went that way. I’m sorry, Your Highness.”
“Tsk… … .”
Reina lowered her head, and Fernandez, who clicked his tongue, buried his back in the sofa.
“It doesn’t matter. Southern leashes are not important to us right now.”
The face of my youngest brother, who was proudly declaring his own path, flashed through my mind.
They refused additional reinforcements from the imperial family, and told them not to interfere because they would stop the monster on their own.
As if foreseeing a bloody storm that will blow from here in the future and trying to avoid it… … It seemed that he was trying to distance himself from the imperial family.
‘I don’t know what the hell you’re up to, Ash. You’ve always been oddly perceptive.’
If the southern front insists on keeping its distance from the ecliptic, it’s rather good.
From Fernandez’s point of view, one variable was eliminated. There was no need to force a check on the southern front.
Fernandez murmured softly as he gazed at the beautiful scenery of the ecliptic reflected through the window.
“The most important thing is the shutdown protocol being installed here, on the ecliptic.”
“… … .”
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Reina slowly turned her head to capture the night view of the city as seen by Fernandez.
The world’s largest city, where countless people live, shines under the bright lights of fireworks.
… … And the huge human sacrifice magic circle set up underground.
It was two hands that had been drenched in blood all their lives, but for some reason, it felt even heavier now.
Reina raised her fingers and clenched her fists.
Anyway, now I can’t turn back.
Once you’ve fallen into this bloody mud, there’s no way out.
“I was going to wait for a more perfect timing. The current is changing rapidly, so there is nothing we can do about it.”
widely.
Putting the finished glass down on the table, Fernandez nodded heavily.
“Please hasten the completion of the shutdown protocol. Sir Reina, I will only trust you.”
“… … .”
“Everything is for the future of the Everblack Empire.”
One of the four destinies predicted by Everblack, the Dark Beast, that would destroy the Empire.
An unknown secret power that the Aegis task force is dealing with on the central dark front.
It was the Aegis Task Force and Commander Fernandez himself.
After creating a non-existent enemy, inflating it with rumors, the organization grew in size and expanded its power in the name of dealing with the illusion.
By deceiving the imperial family, infiltrating the reverse, and burrowing into darkness – the Aegis task force has already taken control of the empire’s underground.
And, now the time is near.
“Get ready. Soon, it is time for rebellion.”
Fernandez got up from his seat and passed Reina.
“The Magic Corps has a lot of work to do for you in the future, Sir Reina.”
“… … .”
“Please don’t be weak.”
Alas, yes.
A bitter smile crossed Rayna’s lips.
Haven’t you already sworn? For the sake of the empire, I would throw off my human skin.
I’d be willing to become a monster.
Fernandez left the office first. Inside the empty room, Reina muttered in her low voice.
“… … Everything is for the future of the Everblack Empire… … .”
Why?
Even though I was so determined, my stomach hurts.
The bright smile of the thunderbolt that I couldn’t meet anymore flickered in front of my eyes. Even the trembling eyes of the adopted daughter that the close friend took in.
Reina looked down at her palm, which was stiff and not moving properly, and then, Kwak! she grabbed.
The wheel has already started rolling.
Now, nobody can stop it.
***
“His Highness, 2nd Prince Fernandez, is trying to rebel… … !”
The serenade continued and quickly explained to me who was clueless.
“As promised with the imperial family earlier, our corps will provide assistance in all aspects of the imperial family’s business. Cooperating with the Aegis task force was part of that.”
“… … .”
“By the way, the more I helped the task force, the more strange information started pouring in. At first, I thought it would be no big deal, so I tried to ignore it.”
“… … .”
“The more information is piled up, the clearer the situation becomes… … And in the end, the only person I could trust and tell this to was Your Highness.”
so.
Did you come down that long way in a hurry? Sensing signs of treason by Fernandez. to inform me.
“Actually, when I arrived here at Crossroads, I wasn’t sure. It was just a faint feeling.”
Serenade bit her lower lip.
“But a few hours ago, let’s gather the information sent to Jeon Seo-eung from the corps headquarters of the ecliptic… … Now that’s clear. His Highness Fernandez is plotting treason.”
“… … .”
“It’s too big and heavy for me to handle… … I just don’t know what to do… … .”
“… … .”
Actually, I knew.
The [Fernandez’s Rebellion] event.
It is the biggest turning point in the second year of <Protect the Empire>, when the 2nd Prince Fernandez rebels to take over the imperial power.
If the biggest quarterly event in the first year was the recruiting of Dusk Bringer.
The biggest quarterly event in the second year is Fernandez’s betrayal.
At this time, the empire is split in two. It is divided into the forces of 1st Prince Lark and 2nd Prince Fernandez, and you must also choose the monster front.
which side to stick to. Whose side will you be on?
‘It was a simpler structure in the game.’
If you attach to 1st Prince Lark, you can receive knight troops and get various soldier-related benefits.
If you join the 2nd Prince Fernandez, you can receive support from the magicians and get various administrative benefits.
In short, depending on the choice, the specialized method of frontline operation will change. In addition, small branches are formed, and the game diverges until the third year of operation.
okay. It was going to happen anyway.
If it’s a problem,
‘The time has come forward.’
Originally, it was an event that only took place in the middle of the second year.
That’s already showing signs now, in the second half of the first year. The pace of development has already started to differ from that of the game.
‘Why is it so fast?’
Could it be because of me?
I… … Ash survived without dying, protecting Serenade and the Winter Silver Merchant, while the Southern Front declared its own route.
A small snowball that I thought was nothing, a single flap of a butterfly’s wings… … Are you twisting the future development?
“… … .”
Does not matter.
Even if the time has come a little earlier, it is still within my clearing experience.
Attack 742 is not in vain. I know how the world will move in the future.
Fernandez’s treason, and the empire’s trend after that.
Although the speed may have changed, it is still in my hands.
I’m honest, I’m going according to my plan.
In my arms as I was organizing my thoughts, the serenade made my body tremble slightly.
“Your Highness, I… … I’m afraid. I am afraid to have known this information, and I do not know how to deal with this weighty fact.”
Serenade looked up at me with frightened eyes.
“Tell me, Your Highness. If Her Majesty Fernandez really does stir up a conspiracy, Her Majesty will… … What are you going to do next? What should I do?”
“… … .”
I stared at this brilliant but naive man in silence.
I ordered the Aegis task force to cooperate with information, but I never thought that the task force would approach the core of the long-hidden conspiracy with only fragmentary pieces of information exchanged with each other.
‘How good is your hair… … .’
His brain is probably several times faster than mine.
My survival and Serenade’s survival cause a butterfly effect, twisting the subsequent development.
But I was sure.
My strategy experience.
And with Serenade’s analytical skills, we’ll be able to get through.
On the rough road to clear in a rapidly changing world, find the only safe route.
“serenade. I will ask you one thing.”
So, I asked quietly.
“If I had a plan. But if it seems too dangerous and difficult road. Will you still follow me?”
“… … .”
Serenade had a hard face at the sudden question, but
“Of course, Your Highness.”
Didn’t hesitate.
“We, the Winter Silver Merchant, will share good fortune with Your Highness. From the beginning, I was determined to do so.”
